FAQ
Hiring a remodeler and estimates FAQ
Straight answers on estimates, contracts, payments, schedules and communication, using what the California Contractors State License Board publishes.
Estimates
An estimate is only useful if you can compare it to another. Ask each remodeler to describe the work in plain words, then compare scope before price. Walk through the list together: what gets torn out, what gets hauled away, which trades are involved, who orders materials and what happens to the walls and floors that get disturbed. An estimate that skips a trade is not cheaper, it is unfinished. Our estimates are free. For the full checklist, see how to choose a remodeler.
Contracts and payments
California sets rules for what a home improvement contract must contain and how much can be asked up front. CSLB publishes a consumer guide, linked in the sources below, that is worth reading before you sign anything. The pattern behind the rules is simple: know what you are buying, pay in step with the work, and keep every change on paper. If a contract leaves out the scope, the payment schedule or the permit question, ask for it to be added before you sign.
Schedules and communication
Most remodeling disputes come down to expectations. Agree on who is on site, how updates reach you and how changes get written down. Schedules move for ordinary reasons: a permit review that takes longer than hoped, a special-order item that arrives late, a surprise inside a wall. A good contractor tells you early and puts the effect in writing. We cover this in our general contractor work, where one team runs the whole project.
Where hiring goes wrong
Three patterns repeat. A homeowner picks the lowest number without checking scope, then pays for the missing items as change orders. A deposit goes out before the contract is signed, so there is nothing on paper to point to. Or nobody decides who pulls the permit, and the work starts without one. Each is easy to prevent with a written contract and a few questions asked early. Use the answers below as a script for your next estimate visit.
Licensing and permits
Licensing and permit questions have their own page: the permits and licensing FAQ. For the town you live in, see remodeling services or the East Bay permit guide.
Hiring and estimates: questions and answers
Are your estimates free?
Yes. N. Abeyta Remodels offers free estimates, and you are welcome to compare ours with others.
How many estimates should I get?
Two or three for a project of any size. Compare what each one includes, not only the total, because estimates far apart are often pricing different scopes.
What should a good estimate include?
A plain description of the work: demolition and disposal, plumbing and electrical changes, drywall and paint, and who supplies tile, fixtures and cabinets. One line with one number is a reason to ask for a breakdown.
Do I need a written contract?
California requires a written home improvement contract when the aggregate price exceeds $500. You should receive a copy signed and dated by both parties before any work starts.
What must the contract say?
It must be legible, in at least 10-point type, with the date you signed and the contractor's contact details for cancellation. CSLB also lists the license number, who pulls permits, start and end dates, the work and materials, and written change orders.
How much can a contractor ask for as a down payment?
No more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. CSLB notes an exception for contractors with a blanket performance and payment bond on file.
How should progress payments work?
The contract must include a schedule of progress payments stating each payment in dollars and cents and tied to specific work and materials. CSLB says payments should not exceed the value of the work performed.
Can I cancel after signing?
Usually, for three business days, or five if you are a senior citizen, using the Three-Day Right to Cancel notice. Exceptions exist, such as a contract negotiated at the contractor's place of business.
How are changes handled mid-project?
In writing, as change orders that state the new work and its cost before it happens. Older houses often reveal surprises behind walls, so changes are normal. Unwritten ones cause disputes.
How long will my remodel take?
It depends on the scope, how many trades are involved, permit review at your building office and when materials arrive. We give you a start and end expectation in the written contract rather than a number up front.
Is the lowest estimate the best choice?
Not automatically. A low number can mean a smaller scope, lower-grade materials or missing items. Ask what is and is not included before comparing prices.
How do I know the contractor is insured?
Ask to see proof of liability coverage. CSLB says California law requires employers to carry workers' compensation even with one employee, and licensees with no employees may file an exemption instead. We are licensed and insured.
Who will I deal with during the project?
Ask any contractor who is on site daily and who the one person is that you call. With us, one team manages the whole project, so you are not chasing separate trades.
What are the warning signs when hiring?
No license number, a large payment demanded before work starts, pressure to decide today, no written contract, a vague estimate or reluctance to show past work.
Want a free estimate?
Call or send the form. We are glad to explain every line.